Sunday, March 9, 2014

A few weeks ago, a few members of the Yellow Airgun Forum were posting about the new Hatsan/Webley Patriot rifle. One of the members, Charlie, mentioned that he had one and wasn't happy with it. It had broken two scopes, and now, the forward stock screw had snapped. He was done with it and offered it to the first person who contacted him. Since we're always looking for project guns, it was one of those "right place/right time" scenarios. True to his word, the Patriot showed up a few days later. Thank you, Charlie. I really appreciate you're kindness.

Unless you've held one, it's hard to grasp just how BIG a Patriot really is. It's a tad longer and a bit heavier than even a Beeman R1/Weihrauch HW80.

As promised, the stock bolt is indeed sheared off. The nut and a portion of thread are g-g-g-g-g-gone.

It's a 7mm shank--and it's got a custom head. I've got nothing at the house to easily retrofit. 7mm is a rogue size here in the states. Virtually all the local hardware stores and even many of the fastener companies jump from 6mm to 8mm in their offerings.

A very quick online search was also fruitless for a direct replacement Hatsan bolt.

Removed the rear trigger guard screw and lifted the action out of the stock.

So, I guess this is the Hatsan SAS. The acronym stands for Shock Absorbing System. It's a hard plastic bushing. Probably nylon or acetal. I must be missing something because I don't see how this damps out vibration.

After some measurement and debating my options, I pushed out the bushing.

Found a M8 x 1.25mm socket head cap screw with a long, unthreaded portion on the shank. Want as little thread as possible when finished to minimize the threads acting as stress risers.

Chucked the bushing in the Taig lathe and reamed the center hole to 5/16". (5/16" is something like 7.94mm) No drill bit necessary.

A perfect push fit over the 8mm bolt.

Chucked the M8 bolt and reduced the head diameter until it was a snug fit in the stock. About 0.488" if I recall.

Chucked the damaged bolt and lined up the lathe tool until it matched the countersink angle of the head.

Then remounted the M8 bolt and plunge cut to replicate the angle.

Shaved down the head to fit flush with the stock.

A short piece of .500" diameter steel will become the missing nut.

Reduced the end to that same 0.488" diameter then faced and spotted.

Lacking a 6.75mm drill bit, a letter H is a close substitution for the tap size.

Threaded the nut M8 x 1.25mm.

Intentionally started with a longer than necessary piece of stock for the nut so it could go into a collet.

Like so.

Then into the milling machine, for slotting with a 1/16" endmill.

Cut and cleaned up to final length.

Pressed the bushing back in.

New stock bolt and nut.

Blued.

And installed. At least now, the stock bolt can be made from a readily available hardware store item.

With the stock secured properly to the action again, I was able to test fire the rifle.

Once.

The vibration and recoil were tremendous. It made my fillings rattle. Loose change came out of my pockets and my socks fell down. Expletives poured out of my mouth. Clearly, this particular gun doesn't need a tune up. It needs emergency surgery. Charlie, I totally understand your willingness to part with it. This thing would empty your wallet buying scopes. I'm actually surprised that the stock is still intact.